Planta Med 1993; 59(4): 308-311
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-959687
Papers

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Suppression of Spontaneous Development of Uterine Adenomyosis by a Chinese Herbal Medicine, Keishi-Bukuryo-Gan, in Mice

Takao Mori1 , Shinobu Sakamoto2 , Tippawan Singtripop1 , Min Kyun Park1 , Tomoyasu Kato2 , Seiichiro Kawashima1 , Hiroshi Nagasawa3
  • 1Zoological Institute, Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan
  • 2Department of Endocrinology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan
  • 3Experimental Animal Research Laboratory, Meiji University, 1-1-1 Higashimita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 214, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

1992

1992

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

Abstract

Keishi-bukuryo-gan (KBG) is a traditional Chinese herbal remedy and has been used for the treatment of gynecological disorders, such as hypermenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and infertility. The effects of KBG on the development of uterine adenomyosis, which is characterized by an abnormal growth of glands and stroma into and beyond the smooth muscle layers of the uterus, were examined in an experimental animal model using the SHN strain of mice. Mice fed handmade chow containing relatively high doses of KBG (0.5% and 1%) showed a significantly lower incidence of adenomyosis and lower activity of thymidylate synthetase (TS) in the uteri than mice fed control handmade chow containing no KBG. The long-term exposure to KBG between 25 and 120 days of age hardly affected the estrous cycle, food intake and body weight. However, mice provided with chow containing a low dose of KBG (0.1%) showed no difference in the incidence of adenomyosis as compared with the controls. The inhibitory effects of the high doses of KBG were nullified by pituitary isografting, which has been proved to enhance the development of adenomyosis. The present mouse data support the view in humans that the oral administration of KBG is a useful tool for the treatment of uterine adenomyosis.